Natural S.O.S Solutions for EYES

Winter has finally passed and spring has blown in full force, leaving many of us battling the first allergies of the season – and, you know what that means? Tired and puffy eyes. Whether you have itchy, allergy eyes, you’ve had a bit of a cry or you’re just super tired, puffy eyes can be totally frustrating. There are many causes for tired and puffy eyes including: drinking a bit too much the night before, sinus issues, seasonal allergies, struggles with diet, stress, genetics, hormonal changes – you name it – but don’t worry! Here’s a look at some natural treatments for combatting tired and puffy eyes.

Chilled cucumbers. Oldest trick in the book, but you know what? It works! Simply place slices of chilled cumbers over each eye, lay back and relax for a few minutes allowing the enzymes in the cucumbers to do their magic and leave those eyes looking totally refreshed.

Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. It seems water is a solution for so many things, and – truth be told – it is! Staying hydrated is the name of the game when it comes to being in tip top shape, but especially when dealing with puffy eyes. Water flushes the system, moving any sort of fluid retention through and out of the body.

Cold spoons. Sounds like such a simple trick, right? It absolutely is – and it works. Simply chill some metal spoons in the freezer (about 15 mins) and place the rounded part of the chilled spoon against your closed eye. This will relax the blood vessels and tighten the skin around the eye, reducing any signs of puffiness.

Green or black tea. While drinking this tea might also have healing properties, placing warm, soaked tea bags over your closed eyes will help reduce swelling. Be sure to let them cool just a bit before placing them on your eyes!

What’s your secret for tired and puffy eyes? xo

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Angelika
www.styleupbyangel.com
(credit: L.R.)

Make Your Own Baby Food

Have you ever wondered about making your own baby food? While it’s super convenient to rely on pre-made and packaged baby foods, making your own is actually easier than you think. Homemade baby food is natural, packed with nutritious ingredients and less expensive than pre-packaged items. Not to mention, you know exactly what ingredients you’re feeding your special little loved one. With a little creativity, a food processor and a sauce pan, you’ll be on your way. Take a look at these tips for how to make your own baby food that you can feel good about. 

Start by choosing the right tools.  You’re going to need a few things to get the baby food perfectly soft and pureed – there are a few good options out there.

• A regular kitchen food processor or blender. You probably already have one of these on hand and each will definitely get the job done, though might be more useful for making large batches of baby food.
• A food mill. This traditional kitchen tool is actually portable and non-electric; it’s a great option and has been used for years to puree.
• A hand blender. Pretty convenient and easy to use, this tool requires electricity and works the opposite way of a blender.
• A baby food maker. These tools steam and puree all in one. You can use this for veggies, fruits and even meat.
• A fork! Sounds so simple, but steamed veggies and fruits are easy to mash up with a fork (think banana, avocado or sweet potato) and you can typically find one anywhere.

Select the best ingredients for your baby, like fresh organic produce and locally sourced meats. Start out simple with fresh fruits like bananas, apricots, apples, plums, peaches, pears and mangoes. And for veggies, try carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and peas.

Wash and cook the fruits and veggies to be sure they a soft before pureeing. You can easily steam, boil or bake produce and meats and even add a bit of the liquid when pureeing the food. Be sure to peel any skin, remove pits, seeds and any fat or skin on poultry or meat.

Simply add the cooked and softened ingredients to your pureeing device (or use a fork!) and mash to a soft, smooth consistency. The homemade baby food can be frozen in small containers or even ice cube trays and will actually last up to six months (meat and poultry about two months).

What do you think? Now that you know how to make your own baby food, will you give it a try?

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Angelika

(credit: L.R.)